Goals from Conor McAleny and Ross Barkley helped Everton make it two wins from two as they defeated Dundee.

Having already beaten Hearts 3-1 on Sunday, the Blues headed for Dens Park intent on leaving Scotland with consecutive victories.

And they made the perfect start – McAleny slotting home inside two minutes. Barkley then added a second after the break, converting a penalty after he was tripped in the box.

The only worry for the visitors was the sight of Romelu Lukaku making an early exit with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Toffees boss Roberto Martinez made wholesale changes to his squad, with six new faces from the side that defeated Hearts including starts for Joel Robles, Tom Cleverley and Tyias Browning.

No sooner had everyone settled in their seats at Dens Park, Everton opened the scoring. McAleny expertly tucked a loose ball across the edge of the box into the corner to hand the Toffees an early lead.

An excellent pass from Barkley then gave the Blues a chance to extend the lead but, when Steven Naismith was felled latching onto the pass, Barkley’s free-kick was well saved Scott Bain.

Lukaku then neatly guided the resultant corner into the path of Cleverley but the midfielder’s shot was deflected over.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic though –Robles had to tip a Nick Ross curler around the post and in their next attack Dundee went even closer. Robles could only watch as Luka Tankulic lashed a loose ball onto the crossbar.

Lukaku limped off on 31 minutes to be replaced by Kieran Dowell.

The youngster was immediately in the thick of things, drawing a save from Bain with a curling effort.

Everton were finding it tough to break through the rearguard of their Scottish opponents. However, after the break, Dowell combined well with Cleverley to present the summer signing with a chance of adding a second. The youngster’s pass was carefully weighted, Cleverley used the pace on the ball to beat a man, but could then only steer the ball across goal and wide.

On 59 minutes, the Blues were presented with a far more straightforward opportunity. Barkley was sent tumbling as he burst into the box and he stepped up to send sub keeper David Mitchell the wrong way.

Credit to Paul Hartley’s men, they continued to press forward searching for a way back into the contest. A neat flowing moved after Tankulic broke at pace saw Kevin Holt arrow a shot the wrong side of Robles’s right-hand post.

On came Kevin Mirallas and Brendan Galloway to add fresh legs to both the attack and defence, with John Stones and McAleny applauded by the travelling support as they warmed down.

Both substitutes were involved as Everton broke quickly from a corner but Galloway’s eventual pass was a little over-eager and a Dundee defender could clear.

Mitchell then saved excellently from Mirallas late on to keep the score at 2-0. And that is the way it finished, meaning the Blues head for home with two positive results – and further minutes - under their belts.